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Microlesson · 5-min read

Taxes Subsumed in GST

# Taxes Subsumed in GST

## Guiding Principles for Subsumption

While deciding which taxes should be merged into GST, the following principles were applied:

1. Only indirect taxes on supply of goods or services should be subsumed.

2. Taxes should form part of the transaction chain — from import/manufacture/provision up to consumption.

3. Subsumption should enable free flow of tax credit across intra-state and inter-state levels. Unrelated levies are excluded.

4. Revenue fairness for both Union and States, individually, must be attempted.

## Central Taxes Subsumed

  • Central Excise Duty & Additional Excise Duties
  • Service Tax
  • Excise Duty under Medicinal & Toilet Preparation Act
  • CVD (Countervailing Duty) and Special CVD
  • Central Sales Tax (CST)
  • Central Surcharges & Cesses (in so far as they relate to supply of goods & services)

## State Taxes Subsumed

  • State Surcharges and Cesses (in so far as they relate to supply of goods & services)
  • Entertainment Tax (except those levied by local bodies)
  • Tax on lottery, betting and gambling
  • Entry tax (all forms) & Purchase tax
  • VAT / Sales Tax
  • Luxury Tax
  • Taxes on advertisements

## Important Carve-outs (NOT Subsumed)

  • Customs Duty — continues as a separate levy on imports/exports.
  • Entertainment Tax levied by local bodies — not subsumed.
  • Taxes on petroleum products (motor spirit, HSD, ATF, crude, natural gas) and alcoholic liquor for human consumption — outside GST currently.
  • Stamp duty — continues.

## Memory Aid

CategoryKey Items
Central SubsumedCentral Excise, Service Tax, CVD/SCVD, CST, Central Cesses
State SubsumedVAT, Luxury Tax, Entry Tax, Entertainment Tax (non-local-body), Lottery/Betting Tax, Advertisement Tax, Purchase Tax
NOT SubsumedCustoms, Stamp Duty, Petroleum/Alcohol Taxes, Entertainment Tax by local bodies

Worked example

### Example 1

Question: Is Customs Duty subsumed in GST?

Answer: No. Customs Duty continues to be levied separately on imports. However, IGST is also charged on imports in addition to Basic Customs Duty.

### Example 2

Question: Is entertainment tax fully subsumed in GST?

Answer: Only partially. Entertainment tax levied by States is subsumed. Entertainment tax levied by local bodies (Panchayats/Municipalities) is NOT subsumed and continues to be charged.

### Example 3

Question: Are taxes on petroleum products subsumed?

Answer: No. Petroleum crude, motor spirit (petrol), high-speed diesel, natural gas, and ATF are currently outside GST and continue to attract VAT/Central Excise.

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Including Customs Duty in the list of subsumed taxes — it is NOT subsumed.
  • Stating entertainment tax is fully subsumed — only that levied by State Governments is subsumed, NOT by local bodies.
  • Forgetting that petroleum products and alcohol for human consumption are outside GST.
  • Including Stamp Duty in subsumed taxes — Stamp Duty continues as a separate levy.
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